Republican leader: Obama not serious on spending

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says he doesn’t think President Barack Obama is serious about dealing with government spending and the deficit.

McConnell says Obama and others at the White House have talked a lot about it, but are showing no willingness to do anything that’s difficult.

The Kentucky Republican offers Social Security as an example, saying that the administration is in denial about the problems facing Social Security.

McConnell says having divided government actually presents an opportunity for doing “big things” in regard to the nation’s financial problems. He says he hopes Obama and Democrats can come together with Republicans on spending issues, but he isn’t optimistic it will happen.